Drinking to an Early Grave
I gotta get more readers in Sacramento. If only the (ex-)DJs of the Morning Rave show had read my rant about drinking too much water. Or any of the other folks who worked at KDND and created the contest to see who could drink the most water. Or perhaps one or two of the contestants in their contest. Especially Jennifer Lea Strange, who died as a result of that contest. Or the people who called into the show and were unable to convince the DJs to call off the contest.
As part of the contest, Jennifer drank close to two gallons. That's about four times the oft-quoted recommendation to drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day. But, if you drink eight glasses per day and they happen to be 12 or 16-ounce glasses, you're getting closer. Or, if you just haul around a water bottle wherever you go and constantly remind yourself to drink, who knows.
The scientific fact is that, in order to stay hydrated, you need to drink -- get this -- when you are thirsty. Yes, there have been scientific studies on how reliable the thirst mechanism is. And guess what? It's pretty darn reliable. Drink alot less or alot more, and you will get sick, even in extreme cases die.
So, please, put down your Nalgene bottle and save a few trips to the bathroom. And, if a radio morning DJ asks you to sign a waiver to enter a contest and then brags on-air that it doesn't matter if you die because you signed the waiver, it's time to go home.
Oh, one more thing, a pet peeve of mine. (What do I have, about 9000?). If you claim to be an environmentalist, or if you are watching your budget, forget about buying bottled water. Not only are the health standards lower than for tap water, it probably is just tap water anyway. Tap water is practically free, you don't have to go somewhere to buy it, there is no packaging made from petroleum products, and transportation does not add to our fuel usage, pollution, or carbon generation. And, if you live here in Boulder, you have some of the best tap water around, straight from the mountains.
As part of the contest, Jennifer drank close to two gallons. That's about four times the oft-quoted recommendation to drink 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day. But, if you drink eight glasses per day and they happen to be 12 or 16-ounce glasses, you're getting closer. Or, if you just haul around a water bottle wherever you go and constantly remind yourself to drink, who knows.
The scientific fact is that, in order to stay hydrated, you need to drink -- get this -- when you are thirsty. Yes, there have been scientific studies on how reliable the thirst mechanism is. And guess what? It's pretty darn reliable. Drink alot less or alot more, and you will get sick, even in extreme cases die.
So, please, put down your Nalgene bottle and save a few trips to the bathroom. And, if a radio morning DJ asks you to sign a waiver to enter a contest and then brags on-air that it doesn't matter if you die because you signed the waiver, it's time to go home.
Oh, one more thing, a pet peeve of mine. (What do I have, about 9000?). If you claim to be an environmentalist, or if you are watching your budget, forget about buying bottled water. Not only are the health standards lower than for tap water, it probably is just tap water anyway. Tap water is practically free, you don't have to go somewhere to buy it, there is no packaging made from petroleum products, and transportation does not add to our fuel usage, pollution, or carbon generation. And, if you live here in Boulder, you have some of the best tap water around, straight from the mountains.
Labels: environment, health and safety, nutrition
posted by insomniac | 10:26 PM
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